Welcome to Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading

As science and technology increasingly shape our world, all students must be empowered to take an active role as citizens who will be the decision-makers of the future. Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading is a research-based curriculum that teaches essential science understandings while building a full range of literacy skills. It’s a next generation curriculum that provides the solid foundation our children need to achieve success in high school, college, and beyond.

Research shows that students understand science more deeply when they have opportunities to use academic vocabulary and connect science text to hands-on experiences. With our "Do-It, Talk-It, Read-It, Write-It" approach, each essential science concept is amplified through hands–on investigations, student–to–student talk, original student books, and writing tasks. This means students learn to read, write, and discuss like scientists.

Literacy abilities take root and thrive when there is an authentic context for learning. Science provides many opportunities for explicitly teaching key language arts standards; hands–on investigations motivate students to read, write, and use academic language. Students also develop their capacity to comprehend informational text, which is important for later academic and career success.

Teacher Testimonials

Teachers and administrators around the country share how Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading has helped their students.

It has been a long time since a set of curriculum materials has been so readily accepted by science teachers (both novice and experienced).

- Director of district Math Science Partnership

The data speaks for itself! There’s renewed enthusiasm that you can feel walking through the school…Teachers are commenting on how much background knowledge students are coming to them with, and they are able to take them farther than they ever have before

- Science Coordinator

[Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading] involves all students, including English Language Learners. I love the Gradual Release of Responsibility, the modeling, it’s all right there and easy for teachers to do

- Principal

It’s the little books! [Teachers and students] love the little books!

- District Academic Science Coordinator

My students gained confidence and expanded their vocabulary. Each student increased reading ability and gained knowledge in science!

- 4th Grade Teacher

The unit did a great job of building the skills for writing a scientific explanation. It carried over into all expository writing.

- 3rd Grade Teacher

This is a great program for an inclusion class and/or lower functioning students. These students learned! The hands-on learning was exciting and the learners ended this unit with the desire to continue expanding their scientific knowledge and applying literacy skills daily.

- 5th Grade Teacher

Students developed the ability to reason, analyze, and comprehend difficult scientific concepts more effectively. I saw a tremendous amount of growth in a relatively short time.

- 4th Grade Teacher

The big plus which just awed me was the learning and implementing of vocabulary. My second language learners did extremely well in learning the vocabulary.

- 2nd Grade Teacher

The curriculum the district provided was so rich that I did not like missing a day of it.